News
Four SL stowaways nabbed aboard container vessel sent back
By Norman Palihawadane
Four Lankan stowaways caught while travelling in a cargo ship conveying apparel exports to Europe from Sri Lanka had been handed over to the Sri Lankan authorities, police said.
The suspects sneaked into the MV CMA CGM PANAMA container ship while it was at Colombo Harbour last month. They were discovered by the captain of the ship at the Suez Canal security checkpoint in Egypt.
The stowaways were returned to Sri Lanka on another ship of the same shipping company.
They were handed over by the ship’s authorities to the officials of the Immigration Department at the Galle Port on Monday (10) evening.
The four youth aged 25, 31, 32 and 32, are residents of Jaffna and Mullaitivu.
Immigration Department officials handed over the youths to the Galle Port Police. They were later transferred to the CID yesterday (11). Action will be taken not only against them but also against the people who aided and abetted them, the police said.
The suspects divulged that they had sneaked into the container ship when it was at the Colombo Harbour on March 24. The ship left the port of Colombo on March 25 and commenced its journey to Europe.
When the ship was entering the Suez Canal in Egypt, it was discovered that there were four stowaways in the ship who were not known to the captain or the other staff of the ship.
The captain then informed his parent company about the discovery and according to their instructions , on March 28 these persons have been handed over to the MV Jackson Bay ship belonging to the same company sailing towards Sri Lanka.
They kept the four Sri Lankan youths in a special cell and brought them to the international waters near the Galle port under strict security.
After the officials of the Galle Port Immigration and Emigration Department, were informed, a team of officials of Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Port Authority approached the MV Jackson Bay traveling on the international waters and the four men were handed over to the custody of Sri Lankan authorities on Monday evening.
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent threat that the government would release funds only to local government bodies to be won by a clean party at the May 06 LG polls.
The EJP, led by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, complained that President Dissanayake has claimed during a public rally at Weligama that the NPP was the only clean party.
The EJP is contesting 37 LG bodies at the forthcoming election.
The new party said that the rights of the other contesting political parties and groups had been violated by the President.
The EJP asked the EC to ensure a level playing field
Having handed over their complaint, EJP spokesman Theekshana Gammanpila told the media outside the EC office that Anura Kumara Dissanayake had won last year’s presidential election and then the parliamentary election as the then government ensured a free and fair election. But now President Dissanayake was making a despicable attempt to influence the electorate in the run-up to the vital mini polls. Gammanpila alleged that the President’s intervention could have a far reaching impact on the electorate.
The EJP spokesman emphasised the responsibility on the part of the EC to intervene and take tangible measures to prevent President Dissanayake from manipulating the electorate to their advantage. (SF)
Former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi, who is his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s wife, were yesterday (02) sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi.
They were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
S.M. Ranjith was found guilty of enabling Shanti to secure an additional fuel allowance between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn.
The Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka hosted a concert of Japanese traditional music by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra featuring the performers of NYSC on 28th March in honour of the visit of Most. Ven. Ohtani Chohjun Nayaka Hamuduruwo, the 25th Head Priest of Higashi Hongan-ji Grand Temple.
The event featured a Japanese tea ceremony and breathtaking musical performances by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra, showcasing traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shamisen. The evening was further enriched by violin and vibrant dance performances by students from the National Youth Council (NYSC) and Lanka Nippon Biztech Institute (LNBTI).
This cultural celebration further strengthened the deep ties between Japan and Sri Lanka, offering a unique experience of Japanese tradition and heritage.
EC asked to ensure level playing field at LG polls; complaint lodged against President AKD
Former CM, and private secretary sentenced to 16 years RI for corruption
Traditional Japanese musical concert and cultural performance
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